Machines



Patented Apr.1'7,1883.

(N0 Model.) v

C. H. WILLGOX 8v G. H. NOBLE.

THREAD OONTROL LING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 276.113.

M R M mnwmi n 2 55005503 Q 5/. 7710mm (m/ I NITE STAT-ES To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES H. WILLcoX. of New York city, in the county and State of New York, and GEORGE H. NOBLE, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thread-Oontrolling Apparatus for Sewing-Machines, which improvement is fullyset forth in the following specifica- To-tion.-

This invention has reference to apparatus for controlling the slack in the upper or needle thread of sewing-machines during the descent of the needle-bar, and may be considered as an improvement on the invention of James E. A. Gibbs described in Letters Patent No. 171,558, granted December 28, 18-75.

The object of the apparatus is to retain the slack thread drawn up by the take-up until by the descent of the needle-bar the eye of the needle reaches the cloth, and then to allow the slack to be drawn down by the needle in its passage through the work, and to leave the thread free, so that a loop may be thrown 5 for the looper or other stitch-forming device to enter. It is applicable as well to look'stitoh and other sewing-machines using'an upper and an under thread as to machines using an upper thread only.

The apparatus described in the aforesaid patent consists of a take-up formed of two eyes carried by the needle-bar and a take-up rest or friction-pad arranged between said eyes, and comprising a spring and a bearing for the end of said spring, said bearing being formed by the overhanging part ofa bent post. When the needle-bar and talre up rise the thread is drawn through the slit between the spring and its bearing into the open space above. The thread is then relieved of any friction which -might interfere with the action of the automatic tension, which ordinarily is employed in connection with the take-up rest or frictionpad. When the needle-bar and take-up rest descend the post and spring form a support or rest for the thread, so that it does not follow the take-up rest in its descent, but remains taut until the eye of the needle reaches the CHARLES H. W'ILLOOX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND GEORGE H. NOBLE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE W ILLOOX 8: GIBBS SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y.

THREAD-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 276,113, dated April 17, 1883.

Application filed December 11,1882. (No model.)

work, when it is drawn downward through the slit into the open space below.

The presentinvention consists, first, in adapting the takeup rest or friction-pad to retain the thread therein, and in substituting for the eyes on the needle-bar small rods or bars or pins, as they will be hereinafter called, to act upon the thread. The take-up rest or friction-pad thus retains the thread in place instead of the take-up, as heretofore, and the thread, when inserted above the take-up pins, will always be in position to be-acted upon by the take-up. The post and spring are preferably adapted themselves to retain the thread in position by having the elongated space between thein closed at the ends; but itis obvious that a plate provided with a slot to receive the thread could be used for the purpose. the Gibbs apparatus, the spring rests against the post for a certain distance, so as to form a support or rest for the thread when drawn through the slit into the recess above the hearing.

The invention secondly consists in providing means for admitting readily the insertion of the thread into the take-up rest or frictionpad, while preventing its accidental escape therefron1such, for example, as an irregular or tortuous passage into the elongated threadspaceand specially in adapting the spring and post to allow of the thread passing over the top of the spring into said space. Thus the thread may be readily introduced into said recess, and when once inserted is not liable to escape, and will be, as before stated, in .position to be acted upon by the take-up.

The third part of the invention consists in connecting the outer or both outer and inner ends of the take-up pins, and in forming the whole out of one piece of metal. A wire or rod bent into shape may be used; but preferably a flat-plate provided with an oblong hole is employed, the take-up rest or friction-pad passing through said hole.

The fourth part of the invention consists in providing the post of the take-up rest or fric- Asin' it is carried over said surface by the take-up. The thread, being thus shifted back and forth on the take-up pins,'is kept from wearing a groove therein. The thread-guides adjacent to the take-up rest are so disposed that they tend to retain the thread against the inclined surface of the post.

The invention further comprises the particular constructions, combinations, and arrangements ofthe parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a partial view in plan, partly in horizontal section, of a VVilleox & Gibbs single-thread sewingmachine provided with the improved threadeontrolling apparatus; Fig. .5, a view in end elevation, partly in vertical section, further illustrating the construction of said apparatus; and Fig. 3, a perspective view of the take-up pins and take-up rest or friction-pad detached from the machine. Fig. 4is a View in section, partly in elevation, showin g the preferred mode gf securing the take'up device to the needlear. p A is the machine-frame; B, the cloth or work plate; 0, the'needle-bar; I), the needlelever; E, the presser-bar; and F G, threadguides, all of ordinary or of any suitable construction.

H represents the take-up pins, connected together by the end pieces, I, the whole made in one piece of metal, and forming a hollow rectangle. It is, as shown in Fig. 2, let into a horizontal slot in the needle-bar, and secured therein by solder. -It is preferably held in place by a screw, Q, forming the top of the needle-bar, and may be held by other suitable means.

K is the post of the take-up rest, and L the spring. The inner side of the post, or side next the spring, is inclined to the vertical. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The spring L, at the bottom, is soldered into a slit in the post K, or is otherwise secured thereto, and atthe top projects into the cap M. There is thus formed an elongated space, which is closed at the top by the cap and at the bottom by the base of the post, and which retains the thread in position, while allowing it to be carried up by the action of the take-up and down by the other stitc'h-formin g devices. Sufficient space is left between the end of the spring, which is rounded, and the walls of the cap to permit the passage of the thread, the irregular or tortnons-opening thus formed permitting the operator to introduce the thread into the recess N below the cap, but preventing its accidental escape over the end of the spring.

The spring may be adapted to yield in order to allow the passage inward of the thread; but this is not necessary if the end of the spring and the cap-piece be properly constructed. v

A spring alone might be relied upon to allow the introduction and prevent the escape of the thread or the take-up rest or frictionpad could have a removable cap. The threadguides F G are on opposite sides of the takeup rest, and thus aid in retaining the thread in plac The post K is provided with a shank, P, which is secured in a hole in the, machine frame; or it may be fastened in other suitable ways, the post and spring being in position to be embraced by the take-uppins H. One of these pins could be used alone, although not with advantage.

It will be understood that the inclined side of post K will cause the thread, as it is carried up by the action of the take-up, to move laterally and prevent its wearing a groove in the take-up pins.

It is obvious that modifications may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that portions thereof may be separately used, if desired.

Having now fully described our said invention and the manner of carrying the same into efl'ect, what we claim is- 1. The post and tension-spring adapted to retain the thread in position between them, in combination with the take-up having one or more pins to act upon the thread, substantially as described.

2. A take-up rest or friction-pad adapted to retain the thread in position therein, in combination with a take-up having one or more pins for acting upon the thread, substantially as described.

3. In a take-up rest or friction-pad, the post, cap therefor,,and spring projecting into said cap, combined and operating substantially as described.

4. In a sewing-machine, and in combination with a take-up, having an elongatedinclosed thread-space, and provided with an irregular or tortuous opening into said space, or with equivalent means for admitting the ready introduction of the thread and preventing its accidental escape, substantially as described.

5. A take-up rest or friction-pad constructed, substantially as described, to admit the ready introduction of the thread thereinto and retain it in position in said rest, in combination with alike take-up having one or more pins for acting on the thread, as set forth.

6. The combination of the post, cap, spring, and take-up pins, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a take-up rest or friction-pad, a take-up having pins connected with each other at the outerends and embracing said rest or pad between them, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the needle-bar, of a hollow oblong take-up device attached thereto in a horizontal position and formed of pins connected together at both ends, substantially as described. I

9. The combination, with a take-up having a take-up rest or friction-pad IIS 12. A take-up device held between the body 15 of the needle-bar and a screw forming the top of said bar and arranged to project at one side of the needle-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 20 ing witnesses.

CHAS. H. WILLCOX. GEORGE H. NOBLE.

Witnesses CYR-US CARLETON, GILMAN E. J OPP. 

